Leading veterinary group Linnaeus has won a prestigious national award for its wide-ranging commitment to energy-saving practices and environmental schemes.
National environmental accreditation scheme Investors in the Environment (iiE) has named Linnaeus, which is part of Mars Veterinary Health (MVH), as Sustainability Influencer 2021, highlighting in particular its power of influence and ambition.
The iiE accolade is a ringing endorsement of Linnaeus’s work to reduce the carbon footprint of its network of primary care and referral practices across the UK and Ireland, an impressive initiative led by environmental sustainability lead Ellie West.
An iiE spokesperson said: “Congratulations to Linnaeus on becoming the iiE Sustainability Influencer 2021.
“The judges were really impressed with the wide-ranging dedication to sustainability shown by Linnaeus and the power of influence through their network and ambition.”
The sustainability award required companies to clearly show how they have changed behaviours of other people or organisations to inspire change beyond their direct business activities.
Ellie, who took up the unique role of sustainability lead at Linnaeus last year, alongside her work as an RCVS and EBVS European specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia at Davies Veterinary Specialists, said: “We are delighted with this award.
“Linnaeus places sustainability at the heart of its plans and we have developed a five-year environmental sustainability strategy which operates across the entire group, while continually working to educate, build skills and provide resources. Our focus is making sustainable veterinary healthcare our ‘business-as-usual’.
“Initiatives we have rolled out across the group include our ‘Paws to Turn Off’ campaign to cut down on wasted energy, along with eliminating nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic agent across the group.
“In addition, Linnaeus has supported 30 of its practices in joining the iiE accreditation scheme, with 13 of these so far achieving accreditation.
“Linnaeus continues to provide formal and informal support to other organisations, too, encouraging them to introduce their own environmental measures and initiatives.
“Linnaeus associates are actively engaged in this agenda; from CPD at conferences to vet school lectures, to Zoe Halfacree’s work for VetSustain, to the Davies Referring Vets Newsletter, we are spreading our knowledge and experiences as widely as we can.”
Margo Mosher, Global Sustainability Director at MVH, said: “It’s fantastic to see this and congratulations to Linnaeus and Ellie!
“The award is a great acknowledgement of the hard work put into sustainability and the impact Linnaeus is having.
“Ellie and Linnaeus have been helpfully guiding the way for the rest of Mars Veterinary Health, so the influence is felt widely!”
